20 beaches in Wales you should visit

A rundown of the best beaches in Wales. The coastline of Wales is home to 42 Blue Flag beaches, this is an award only handed out to beaches with the highest level of safety standards, water quality, and environmental management.

Wales is home to 42 Blue Flag beaches, this is an award only handed out to beaches with the highest level of safety standards, water quality, and environmental management.

Beaches in Wales are dotted around our 750 miles of coastline, so you’re never too far from the sea. In summer, the Welsh beaches come alive with activity, so we’ve put together a rundown of some of the country’s top beaches, as well as information on facilities and attractions at each beach...

Abersoch

Abersoch beach is one of the most popular beaches in Wales for watersports, and is located on the Llyn Peninsula in the north-west of Wales.

The beach has fairly calm waters and is well sheltered, which is why it is one of the prefered beaches in Wales for watersports and other activities. The water quality is good, and restrictions are in place around the beach to keep motorised vehicles away from bathers.

Amroth beach is located near Pendine in Pembrokeshire, on the south coast of Wales. It earned its status as one of the cleanest beaches in Wales, when awarded its Blue Flag status in 2007. Due the beach’s clean water, it is popular with swimmers.

Oddly, at low tide tree stumps are visible in the sand. This is the remains of a forest, flooded thousands of years ago when the sea levels rose 7000 years ago. The beach has a road running next to its bank, which hosts a number of shops and cafes.

Barmouth

Barmouth beach, in Abermaw, is located on the north-west coast of Wales, in Snowdonia National Park. It is one of Wales’ Blue Flag beaches, and is well-known for its golden sands. Its proximity to the local amusements makes for a popular seaside resort.

Depending on the swell, the long and spacious beach can be popular with surfers.

Broadhaven North

Broadhaven North is a safe bathing beach in Wales, located in Pembrokeshire. The beach is not far away from local facilities, as well as the Pembrokeshire National Park Information Centre. The Broadhaven North beach offers fantastic views over St Bride’s Bay. Rock pooling, swimming and a range of watersports will keep you entertained on your visit.

Facilities include:

Parking
Nearby Cafes (with toilets)
Shops

Caswell Bay

Caswell Bay is a wonderful family beach on the Gower Peninsula. It is a popular spot for parents with young children, as it is clean, has lifeguards in the high season, and is easily accessible from the nearby village of Bishopston. Ramps heading down to the sand also mean that access with wheelchairs and prams is relatively easy.

The GSD surf school is located at Caswell Bay, and due to the shelter surrounding the beach, and the position of the bay, it can be a good place to surf. Food is available at the local villages.

Criccieth Main Beach

Criccieth’s main beach is made up of a mixture sand and pebbles. The local habitat at the beach can often make for some magical sights, such as porpoises and seals. The RNLI have a base at the beach and often launch boats from the area. Due to the Gulf Stream, the water can be warmer than expected at Criccieth.

The famous Criccieth Castle is just a few minutes away, as well as a number of local shops and businesses.

Dinas Dinlle

Yet another clean Blue Flag beach in Llyn, this beach is located on the north-west of the peninsula, with Anglesey to the North. Dinas Dinlle can be a quiet sanctuary, with stunning views and a generally peaceful atmosphere. The facilities aren’t as abundant as they might be at busier locations, but Dinas Dinlle is one of the best beaches in Wales for pure relaxation.

Cafes and accommodation can be found nearby.

Langland Bay

One of the cleanest beaches in the Gower, and in the rest of Wales for that matter. The beach is just a short walk from Mumbles, but you won’t be short of things to do if you visit Langland Bay. The idyllic location is famous for its beach huts, which surround the bay.

Facilities:

Local shops on the promenade
Public toilets
Car parking
Hot food

If you are a surfer then Langland Bay might just be your paradise, with some of the best waves in Wales when the swell is up.

Llanddona

Llanddona is a beach, located near the village of the same name, on Anglesey’s north-east coast. The Blue Flag beach is located at the eastern end of Red Wharf Bay, and is popular with visitors from around Wales. Walking is a popular leisure activity in the local area, with the historic town of Beaumaris located nearby.

Basic facilities include toilets, beach cafe, and nearby parking. The road leading to the beach is narrow, and should be approached with care if you have never driven in the area, but once you arrive, you will find yourself in a fantastic spot for sea fishing.

Llandudno North Shore

Llandudno is a very popular seaside resort in North Wales, attracting visitors from around the UK. The North Shore beach is just one of the reasons people come to visit the town, but it is a great reason nonetheless. In terms of facilities, you will have the whole resort at your disposal, so be prepared for:

A range of accommodation is on offer in Llandudno, and history buffs may want to see the bronze age mine at Great Orme.

Llangrannog beaches

Located on Ceredigion’s Heritage Coast, the two Llangrannog beaches make for a great day out. At low tide you can walk between the two beaches, past Carreg Bica, a large rock which is the stuff of local legend. As well as Carreg Bica, which according to legend is the remains of a giant’s tooth, visitors will also find a number of caves in the area. The two beaches mean there is enough room for everybody on sunny days.

Facilities:

Local pubs
Ice cream stand
Nearby cafe
Parking

Poppit Sands

Poppit Sands is located at the beginning of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, making it a great place to start your visit of the area if you are planning a holiday. Lifeguards are on hand, which means first aid is available, and bathers are kept safe from watercraft with the flag system, which allocates different parts of the beach for different uses. If you are lucky, you might just spot a few dolphins leaping out of the water.

This Gower beach is quite simply great for families, there is plenty to do and in the summer months the beach is patrolled by lifeguards. Children will enjoy rock pools teeming with life, and clean and safe water, typical of all the Blue Flag beaches in Wales. Visitors at the ruins of the 18th century salt house will find themselves on the smugglers’ trail, as some historians claim the business was a front for illegal smuggling.

Another great beach for the family, located near Holyhead, in Anglesey. If you’re after a spot of sunbathing and a bit of a paddle, then Porth Dafarch is a good place to go, but there is also plenty to do once the family get bored if you take the short trip to Holyhead. There are a number of leisure activities on the beach, from scuba diving to cycling.

Rest Bay in Porthcawl is a great beach to learn how to surf, the waves are rarely ever big enough to scare off beginners, and there are a number of good surf schools in the area. Rest Bay can get really busy on sunny days, it attracts people from Cardiff and the valley towns, but due to the vast land around the beach, there is always enough room to relax.

Rhyl offers a vast expanse of golden sands, and there is plenty to do at Prestatyn’s beaches. If you’re into kitesurfing, swimming, or fishing, then it is worth a visit, and the summer lifeguards will do their best to ensure your safety. Take a trip along the promenade for a good range of things to do.

Facilities include:

Lifeguards
Nearby refreshments
Donkey rides
Toilets
Parking

Pwllheli Marian Y De

It’s sand dunes galore at Marian Y De, the beach is located near Criccieth on the Llyn Peninsula, and is popular for various water activities. The beach itself is made up of sand and shingle, and sections of the beach are divided up for different sporting activities.

Facilities include:

Free parking
Cafe
Restaurant
Toilets
First aid
Disabled access

St David’s Whitesands

The smallest city in the UK plays host to one of the best beaches in Wales. The beach is usually a hive of water activity, but swimmers must pay attention to safety signs at Whitesands, as dangerous currents can occur in some places. St David’s, and the rest of Pembrokeshire, is generally a beautiful place to visit, and with a walk to the nearby city you will find plenty to keep you occupied.

Facilities include:

Shop
Toilets
Cafe
Lifeguard (summer)
Slipway
Wheelchair access

Trecco Bay

Trecco Bay is located in Porthcawl and is actually part of a holiday park. Fortunately, it is open to the public, and the holiday park has a number of good facilities for visitors. Amusements arcades and a leisure centre provide good entertainment for children, and dog walkers can make use of an allocated dog-walking area.

Popular and much-loved Victorian seaside resort in Barry, very busy on sunny days but well worth a visit. Whitmore Bay is steeped in tradition, children will love the funfair and amusements. There are a number of places to eat and drink in Whitmore Bay, as well as a variety of street entertainment in the holiday season.

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